What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is defined as: “the active, holistic care of patients with advanced progressive illness. Management of pain and other symptoms and provision of psychological, social and spiritual support is paramount. The goal of palliative care is to achieve the best quality of life for patients and their families. Many aspects of palliative care are also applicable earlier in the course of the illness in conjunction with other treatments”. More latterly the importance of “early identification and impeccable assessment” has been added to this definition. 

Principles of Quality Palliative Care

  Good palliative care:

• is applicable from diagnosis;
• affirms life and regards dying as a normal process;
• seeks neither to hasten nor to postpone death;
• integrates the psychological, emotional and spiritual aspects of care;
•  offers a support system to help people live as actively as possible until death;
• provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms;
• offers a support system to help the family cope during ta person's illness ,death and bereavement;
• uses team approach to address the needs of people with advanced pregressive illness and their families
• will enhance quality of life 

Commonly asked questions

Is is when everyone else has given up?

Is it only for patients with cancer?

Palliative care is an approach to care for people with any advanced progressive illness, including advanced heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD), motor neuron disease or advanced dementia

Does it deal with physical symptoms such as sickness?

Palliative care considers each person holistically, recognising not only the physical problems, but also the considers the emotional, psychological, spiritual , social and financial concerns which people with advanced progressive illness and their families and carers may be experiencing.

Does it only focus on the needs of the patient?

To achieve the best quality of life for patients, it is also necessary to support their carers and close family through effective communication and the assessment of their needs 

It is only practiced in hospices?

Palliative is provided by many professionals who care for people with advanced progressive illness day to day. Specialists such as Clinical Nurse Specialists in Palliative Care or Consultants in Palliative  Medicine work in hospitals, community and hospices.

What is End of Life Care?

End of life care is an integral part of palliative care, and helps all those with advanced, progressive and incurable conditions to live as well as possible until they die. There is considerable overlap between theses terms and concepts. End of Life care is often recognised as the period of time during which an individual's condition deteriorates to the point where death is either probable within the ensuing twelve months, or would not be an unexpected event. However this will depend on the disease itself and how rapidly progressive it is for that particular patient.

A specific component of both end of life care and palliative care is the last few days or weeks of life. Some people refer to this as the  'dying phase' - others use the term 'terminal care'.

Comparing Palliative and End of life Care